Some from the WarInUkraine guy, and others:
- Russians are still advancing, but very slowly.
Displeasure at Zelenskyy in Ukr as he admits he knew Russian invasion plans, months ahead of time. Didn't tell his people for their own good.
Ukr Farmers won't be producing food. The prices have collapsed, they can't store it, they can't export it.
US midterm elections (November) are likely to see gains for Trump's lot, leading to reduced spending in Ukr.
- US has its own problems. Inflation, huge borrowing, overblown stock valuations.
Life in Russia has snags, mostly just at edges; though add in inflation and some more unemployment.
However, Russia is earning far more from oil/gas than in recent years, because of the price hikes.
It has plenty of rubles to pay the people, even though the currency is stronger than it was pre-invasion.
Russia has food, energy, and most goods it needs from China.
It's missing some highest-tech imports, but for many of those it can catch up, with home production, over time.
Oil:
Exports from Russia 2020
India has increased oil imports tenfold+ to 10.5$bn.
China's Russian fuel imports are up by a few $bn worth due to volume.
"Chinese and Indian buyers snapped up $24 billion in Russian crude during the first three months of war alone".
Of course what one country doesn't import, is available to another, so it all sloshes around.
Fact seems to remain that Russia has Europe by the balls.
LIttle Bulgaria has conceded that it will have to use Russian oil, contrary to earlier plans.
First of many, unless Russia declines, and chooses to squeeze instead?
How much more pressure would it take, to force an economic depression in the West?
The News is about a killing here, a bombing there, a war crime somewhere. Pah.